In an effort to rebuild the front office after the dismissal of Stan Van Gundy, the Pistons have reportedly hired Grizzlies executive Ed Stefanski to oversee the overhaul of Detroit’s basketball operations.
Via ESPN.com:
“I’m going to Detroit to meet with all the employees, and I am going to listen to all their thoughts and visions,” Stefanski told ESPN. “And then I am going to give advice to our owner, Tom Gores, on how we are going to structure things going forward. The big thing right now, though, is that we need a head coach and a GM. Those will be two items that we will probably do simultaneously.”
Regarded as a “well-connected and energetic executive”, the 64-year-old Stefanski has connections to Dwane Casey who was recently fired by the Raptors after leading Toronto to the top seed in the East only to get swept out of the playoffs by the Cavaliers. Stafanski was part of a Raptors front office that originally hired Casey back in 2011 which resulted in pretty consistent success for Toronto ever since.
Casey has been regarded as Detroit’s top head coaching target this offseason. The Pistons were also reportedly linked to Spurs assistant Becky Hammon this past week.
Looking to separate the connection between head coach and the front office, Stefanski may continue to take a look and suggest candidates for the front office whose name have come up in recent weeks. This includes television analyst Brent Barry, former Cavaliers GM David Griffin and former Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince who just completed his first year working in the Grizzlies’ front office.
